White House: Obama Had Constitutional Power for Bergdahl Swap (Video)

The president’s responsibility to act trumps congressional oversight on spending, the White House said Friday.

The White House said Friday that constitutional authorities of the commander in chief trumped possible funding illegality in the transfer of five Taliban members in exchange for Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl.

“The president has the constitutional responsibility to protect the lives of Americans abroad, and specifically to protect U.S. service members,” White House spokesman Eric Schultz told reporters in Edgartown, Mass., “It’s important for everyone here to understand that the GAO report expressly does not address the lawfulness of the administration’s actions as a matter of constitutional law.”

The Government Accountability Office found that the Obama administration acted outside the law in making the transfer without providing Congress 30 days notice and without appropriated funds for the purpose.

“What the president made clear at the time of the Guantánamo transfer was that his commitment to the men and women that serve overseas is a bedrock one, that we will leave no man or woman behind,” Schultz said. “That’s what he was keeping faith with, and that’s something that’s unshakable for him.”

Speaker John A. Boehner of Ohio was among the Republican lawmakers renewing criticism of the Bergdahl exchange in the aftermath of GAO’s determination.

“Yesterday, the nonpartisan, independent Government Accountability Office confirmed what everyone capable of reading the English language already knew: the White House ignored the law when it released five dangerous Taliban prisoners without proper Congressional notification,” Boehner said in a statement issued earlier Friday.

“As we’ve made previously clear, the administration determined that it was lawful to proceed with the transfer in order to protect the life of a U.S. service member held captive and in danger, notwithstanding that Congress did not receive the 30 days notice. Again, we disagree with GAO’s conclusion and reject the implication that the administration acted unlawfully,” Schultz said.

Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby said similar in a statement issued late Thursday.

“As Secretary Hagel has testified before Congress, the recovery of SGT Bergdahl was conducted lawfully. This decision was made after consultation with the Department of Justice,” Kirby said. “The Administration had a fleeting opportunity to protect the life of a U.S. service member held captive and in danger for almost five years. Under these exceptional circumstances, the Administration determined that it was necessary and appropriate to forego 30 days’ notice of the transfer in order to obtain SGT Bergdahl’s safe return.”

The Narcissist in Chief thinks he is the Constitution. He is working his skinny butt toward impeachment.

DesertChem

“The president has the constitutional responsibility to protect the lives of Americans abroad, and specifically to protect U.S. service members,”

What an incredible bunch of BS this is…..What about Marine Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi; still held in a jail in Mexico.

Gregory Williams

He is NOT a marine anymore and has not been one for a long time and he broke Mexican law – it is not the same thing as the Bergdalh issue and you know it.

Packard27

“When I use a word” Humpty Dumpty said in a contemptuous tone, “it means exactly what I choose it to mean—nothing more and nothing less.”

Through the Looking Glass
Lewis B. Carroll

Gregory Williams

The Government Accountability Office found that the Obama administration
acted outside the law in making the transfer without providing Congress
30 days notice and without appropriated funds for the purpose.

THAT is NOT what the GAO said – they said that the DOD failed to get approval for the funds used to do this … they ignore the fact that the President is the C&C and he has the authority over the military and the Congress does not, the constitution is very clear on this and even the partisan conservatives on the SCOTUS would not dare to play their partisan political games with this issue and they would be forced to back up the President on this and the House extremists can shove their hate fueled ODS up their @$$.

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About POTUS Operandi

White House Correspondent Steven T. Dennis (@StevenTDennis) gives you detailed analysis and reporting on the Obama administration and its relationship with Congress.